Aveeno seals moisture in with petrolatum and oat. CeraVe rebuilds with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
Both are fragrance-free daily lotions in big pump bottles, but they’re built for different jobs. Aveeno is a body lotion. Glycerin, petrolatum and dimethicone hold water in, and oat kernel flour soothes dry, itchy skin. CeraVe is a face-and-body lotion. It’s lighter and oil-free, and it adds three ceramides, cholesterol and hyaluronic acid to support your skin barrier.
If you only need something for dry arms and legs, Aveeno does that well and usually costs less per ounce. If you want one bottle that also works on your face, or your skin is acne-prone or eczema-prone, buy CeraVe. CeraVe’s 12 oz and 19 oz bottles hold the same lotion, so size comes down to how fast you’ll use it.
Which lotion to buy
| Body lotion Aveeno Fragrance-Free Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion, 18 oz | VS | Face and body lotion CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Face and Body Lotion, 19 oz |
|---|---|---|
Body | Made for |
Face and body |
Petrolatum, dimethicone | Moisture sealers |
Dimethicone |
Glycerin | Hydrators |
Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate |
None | Barrier lipids |
Ceramides NP, AP, EOP + cholesterol |
Oat kernel flour | Soothing ingredient |
None beyond the ceramides |
None | Fragrance |
None |
18 fl oz | Bottle |
19 fl oz (also 12 fl oz) |
| View | View |
How to choose between them
- Where you'll use it
Body only points to Aveeno. Face and body points to CeraVe, which is lighter, oil-free and won’t clog pores. Aveeno is made for the body and includes isopropyl palmitate, which some faces don’t tolerate.
Look forCeraVe if one bottle has to cover your face.AvoidAveeno on acne-prone facial skin. - How dry your skin gets
Aveeno’s petrolatum and dimethicone seal in moisture, which helps rough, dry limbs, especially in winter. CeraVe hydrates with glycerin and hyaluronic acid and supports the barrier with ceramides, but it feels lighter.
Look forAveeno for dry legs and arms, CeraVe for normal to dry skin that wants a light feel.AvoidExpecting either lotion to replace a thick cream on cracked skin. - Eczema-prone or reactive skin
Both are fragrance-free. CeraVe is accepted by the National Eczema Association and adds ceramides and cholesterol, which makes it the better match for skin with a weak barrier.
Look forFragrance-free with barrier lipids.AvoidSwitching lotions during a flare. - Cost per ounce and bottle size
Aveeno usually costs the least per ounce. Between the CeraVe sizes, the 19 oz typically costs less per ounce than the 12 oz, and the formula is identical.
Look forThe 19 oz CeraVe if you use it daily on your body.AvoidA big bottle you'll only use on your face.
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion: a sealing body lotion with oat
Petrolatum and oat body lotion at a low cost per ounce.
Aveeno’s formula is short: water, glycerin, then petrolatum, isopropyl palmitate, cetyl alcohol, oat kernel flour and dimethicone. Glycerin draws water into your skin, and petrolatum and dimethicone form a light seal that slows it from escaping. That combination is what makes dry legs and arms feel comfortable for longer.
The oat is finely milled kernel flour, a long-standing soothing ingredient for dry, itchy skin. There are no ceramides or hyaluronic acid. The lotion is fragrance-free; benzyl alcohol is in there as a preservative.
This is a body lotion. Isopropyl palmitate is an emollient that some acne-prone people find clogs pores on the face, so if you break out easily, use it from the neck down.
- Petrolatum and dimethicone seal moisture in on dry skin
- Oat kernel flour for soothing dry, itchy skin
- Fragrance-free
- Usually the lowest cost per ounce of the three
- No ceramides or hyaluronic acid
- Isopropyl palmitate can break out acne-prone skin if used on the face
- Made for the body, not the face
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion: ceramides for face and body
Light ceramide lotion for face and body.
CeraVe’s lotion is lighter than Aveeno’s. After water and glycerin, the base is caprylic/capric triglyceride, fatty alcohols and dimethicone, with no petrolatum and no heavy oils. It sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave your face shiny.
What sets it apart is the barrier set further down: ceramides NP, AP and EOP, cholesterol and phytosphingosine, the same lipids your skin barrier is made of, plus sodium hyaluronate to pull in water. The formula is fragrance-free, oil-free, won’t clog pores and is accepted by the National Eczema Association.
That makes it the one to buy if you want a single bottle for your face and body, or if your skin breaks out easily. The 19 oz holds the same lotion as the 12 oz and usually costs less per ounce.
- Ceramides NP, AP and EOP with cholesterol and phytosphingosine
- Glycerin and hyaluronic acid for hydration
- Fragrance-free, oil-free and won’t clog pores
- Accepted by the National Eczema Association
- Usually costs less per ounce than the 12 oz
- Costs more per ounce than Aveeno
- Lighter feel may not be enough for very rough, cracked skin
CeraVe 12 oz: the same lotion for face-only use
Same CeraVe formula in a smaller bottle.
The 12 oz bottle holds exactly the same Daily Moisturizing Lotion as the 19 oz: glycerin, three ceramides, cholesterol and sodium hyaluronate in a light, fragrance-free base.
Pick this size if the lotion is mainly for your face, if you want to see how your skin takes it before committing, or if a big pump bottle won’t fit your counter. If you end up using it on your body every day, the 19 oz is the better buy.
- Same ceramide and hyaluronic acid lotion as the 19 oz
- Easier to keep on a bathroom counter or travel with
- Lower-commitment size for a first try
- Usually costs more per ounce than the 19 oz
- Runs out fast if you use it on your body every day
Choose Aveeno if you want a body lotion for dry skin and the lowest cost per ounce. Petrolatum, dimethicone and glycerin hold water in, oat soothes, and the formula is fragrance-free. Keep it below the neck if you’re acne-prone.
Choose CeraVe if you want one lotion for your face and body. It adds three ceramides, cholesterol and hyaluronic acid, skips the heavier oils, won’t clog pores and carries the National Eczema Association’s acceptance.
For CeraVe, the 12 oz and 19 oz bottles hold the same lotion. Buy the 19 oz if you’ll use it daily on your body, and the 12 oz if it’s mostly for your face or a first try.
